shivian: a forbidden love 🖤🫶🏻

chapter 52: its okay

Third person pov:

A few days later, Siobhan and Vivian noticed that something was off with the twins. Harper and Hailey, usually full of energy, had become lethargic and fussy, their little faces flushed with fever. Concerned, they took the girls to the pediatrician, only to discover that the twins had caught a nasty bug that was going around. The doctor advised keeping them home, away from other people, until they were fully recovered to avoid spreading the illness.

That evening, after the girls had been given medicine and were resting in their crib, Siobhan and Vivian exchanged worried glances. The hardest part wasn't just taking care of two sick babies—it was knowing how much Harper and Hailey adored Marjorie and Reece. They knew the twins would struggle without seeing the two people they had grown so attached to.

Siobhan sighed as she sat on the edge of the bed, watching Harper stir in her sleep. "They’re going to be so upset," she whispered, rubbing her hand over her face. "They’ve been so close to Marjorie and Reece lately. I don’t know how they’re going to handle being apart for so long."

Vivian nodded, sitting beside her and wrapping her arm around Siobhan’s shoulders. "I know. We’ll have to explain it to them, but it’s not going to be easy. They don’t really understand why things are different yet."

Later that afternoon, after the twins had woken up from their nap, Siobhan and Vivian sat down with the girls, each of them holding one twin in their arms. Harper and Hailey were unusually quiet, their little faces still flushed from the fever, but both were calm in the arms of their moms.

"Hey, sweethearts," Vivian began softly, stroking Hailey’s back. "We need to talk to you about something, okay?"

Harper blinked up at Siobhan, her eyes drooping but still curious, as if she knew something important was about to happen. Siobhan gave her a gentle smile, trying to hide the sadness she felt. "We’re going to stay home for a little while," she explained. "You both need to rest and get better, so we won’t be able to see Marjorie and Reece for a little bit."

At the sound of Marjorie’s name, Harper’s face scrunched up in confusion, and she began to squirm in Siobhan’s arms. "Mar Mar?" she babbled, looking around as if she expected Marjorie to appear any second. When she didn’t see her, Harper’s lip began to tremble, and she reached out toward the door, whining softly. "Mar Mar…"

Hailey, always sensitive to Harper’s moods, began to fuss as well, clinging to Vivian and letting out small, distressed sounds. Her tiny hands gripped Vivian’s shirt tightly, as if she was afraid something was being taken from her.

Siobhan’s heart broke at the sight. "I know, baby. I know you miss her," she whispered, holding Harper close as the baby began to cry in earnest. "But you’re sick, and you need to get better first. I promise, you’ll see Marjorie and Reece soon."

Harper didn’t understand. All she knew was that her favorite person wasn’t here, and no matter how much Siobhan tried to comfort her, it didn’t seem to help. The little girl’s cries grew louder, her tiny fists pounding against Siobhan’s chest in frustration. Hailey followed suit, her cries mixing with her sister’s, creating a heartbreaking chorus of distress.

Vivian looked over at Siobhan, her own heart aching. "They’re so upset," she said softly, trying to calm Hailey, who was now wailing loudly. "This is going to be so hard for them."

Siobhan nodded, bouncing Harper gently in an attempt to soothe her. "We’ll just have to be extra patient and give them lots of love. It’s the only thing we can do right now."

The rest of the evening was difficult. Harper and Hailey were inconsolable, their cries echoing through the house as they mourned the absence of the people they had grown so attached to. Siobhan and Vivian took turns holding and comforting them, but the twins’ sadness seemed to linger, their little hearts aching for Marjorie and Reece.